rating

noun

rat·​ing ˈrā-tiŋ 

1

: a classification according to grade

specifically : a military or naval specialist classification

2

chiefly British : a naval enlisted man

3

a

: relative estimate or evaluation : standing

the school has a good academic rating

b

: an estimate of an individual's or business's credit and responsibility

c

: an estimate of the percentage of the public listening to or viewing a particular radio or television program

4

: a stated operating limit of a machine expressible in power units (such as kilowatts of a direct-current generator) or in characteristics (such as voltage)

Examples of rating in a Sentence

The school has an above-average academic rating.

The article compares the fuel-economy ratings of various cars.

Recent Examples on the Web

Daniels has yet to throw an interception this postseason and has a 116.2 passer rating — the highest among all remaining quarterbacks. —Dj Siddiqi, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025

In the past eight games, five of which Banchero started, Orlando’s offensive rating (102.4) is dead last in the league. —Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel, 20 Jan. 2025

For example, Daniels’ completion percentage and QB rating have come down from his historic red-hot start though that was likely to be expected. —Sam Joseph, CNN, 20 Jan. 2025

Those ratings create an estimate of how many goals each team is expected to score and allow in a game against an average opponent at a neutral site. —Dom Luszczyszyn, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1702, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing rating

• approval rating
• credit rating
• Q rating
• self-rating

Kids Definition

rating

noun

rat·​ing

ˈrāt-iŋ

: a position within a grading system

credit rating